Strategy game and method of playing

ABSTRACT

A game for play by at least two opposing players, includes a game board and a plurality of game pieces, having indicia integrated therein for determining the direction of movement of the game piece on the game board. During play the game pieces are stacked upon capturing of an opposing player&#39;s game piece. The number of game pieces in a stack determines the distance of movement in a respective direction on the game board which the stack may move.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/460,568 (by Anderson, filed Dec. 14, 1999, entitled “Strategy Game And Method Of Playing”), the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to board games, more particularly to an improved strategy game played on a game board by two or more players.

[0003] There are many different types of board games, such as checkers and chess. Checkers is played, traditionally, on a two-colored game board which is divided into 64 equally sized squares in an 8 by 8 matrix, each square being alternately colored. Each player begins the game with 12 playing pieces of the same color. The playing pieces are placed on opposite ends of the game board in the three rows directly in front of the player on alternate squares, such that 4 pieces are placed in each of the three rows on squares bearing the same color.

[0004] The object of the game is to block the opponents' game pieces from moving or by capturing the opponent's playing pieces. The winner is the last player with playing pieces remaining on the board. The players move their playing pieces forward one at a time, in a diagonal direction, such that the entire game is played using squares of the same color, and try to reach the opponent's side of the game board without being captured or blocked.

[0005] Capturing playing pieces is accomplished by jumping over an opponent's game piece to an open square on the other side of the captured game piece. Once a piece is captured by the opponent, it is removed from the game board. When all of the playing pieces of one player are “captured” and removed from the board, or blocked so that the player's piece(s) cannot be legally moved, the game is over. If any one of a player's game pieces reaches the last row on the opposite side of the game board without being captured, it is “crowned” and another playing piece is placed on top of it. A “crowned” game piece can be moved more liberally, as it can be moved in either a forward or reverse direction, increasing the possibility of moves and lessening the opponent's ability to block the game piece.

[0006] An inherent disadvantage to this traditional method of playing the game is that the players can only move in a forward direction until the pieces reach the other side of the game board, the strategy involved to win the game is limited, making the game unchallenging after extended play.

[0007] Chess is traditionally played on a two-colored game board which is divided into 64 equally sized squares in an 8 by 8 matrix, each square being alternately colored. Each player begins the game with 16 playing pieces of the same color. The playing pieces are placed on opposite ends of the game board in the two rows directly in front of the player.

[0008] The sixteen playing pieces consist of 8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 1 queen and 1 king. Each type of playing piece moves differently on the playing board, for example a pawn may move two squares forward on its initial move, and thereafter only one square, while a bishop may only move diagonally any number of squares, a rook may move forward or back, and laterally any number of squares, a knight may move two squares then one square laterally, a queen may move in any direction any number of squares, and a king may move in any direction only one square at a time.

[0009] The object of the game is to capture the opponent's king. The players move their playing pieces in their respective directions, while trying to capture their opponent's playing pieces. Capturing playing pieces is accomplished by moving a playing piece onto the same square as an opponent's game piece. Once a piece is captured by the opponent, it is removed from the game board. With the six differing game pieces, moving in varying directions in varying distances, multiple move combinations must be analyzed prior to each opponent's move. In general it takes many years and countless hours to comprehend the strategic maneuvers necessary to be a skilled chess player.

[0010] From the foregoing discussion, it can clearly be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide a method for playing a board game which increases the difficulty and strategy of the game and makes the game more challenging for experienced players, yet is not so complicated as to exclude less sophisticated players from participating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a method of playing a game between two or more opposing players. The method includes placing a first set of game pieces on a game board having a plurality of game squares, and placing a second set of game pieces on the game board. The first set of game pieces and the second set of game pieces each comprise a plurality of sub-game pieces, having indicia integrated therein for determining the direction of movement of the sub-game pieces on the game board. The sub-game pieces are moved in their respective direction on the game board, and stacks of sub-game pieces are formed when a player moves a sub-game piece onto a game square occupied by one or more opposing sub-game pieces, wherein the number of sub-game pieces in a stack determining a distance of movement in a respective direction on the game board.

[0012] The present invention provides, in a second aspect, a method of playing a game between two or more opposing players in which the method includes placing a first set of stackable game pieces on a game board having a plurality of positions, placing a second set of stackable game pieces on the game board, capturing opposing game pieces to form a plurality of stacks, and moving the plurality of stacks on the game board a number of positions corresponding to the number of game pieces in the stack and less than the number of game pieces in the stack.

[0013] The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a method of playing a game by at least two opposing players in which the method includes locating a first set of stackable game pieces on a game board having a plurality of squares, and locating a second set of stackable game pieces on a game board having a plurality of squares. The first set of stackable game pieces includes a plurality of square game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a square-shaped cross-section, a plurality of triangular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a triangular-shaped cross-section, and a plurality of circular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a circular-shaped cross-section. The second set of stackable game pieces include a plurality of square game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a square-shaped cross-section, a plurality of triangular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a triangular-shaped cross-section, and a plurality of circular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a circular-shaped cross-section. Opposing game pieces are captured to form a plurality of stacks, and the plurality of stacks are moved on the game board a number of squares corresponding to the number of game pieces in the stack and less than the number of game pieces in the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game board showing a manner for configuration of the game pieces;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a game piece showing a peg and hole configuration for stacking game pieces;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of a game board showing the direction of movement for a respective game piece;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a game board showing the direction of movement for a respective game piece;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a game board showing the direction of movement for a respective game piece; and

[0019]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a game board showing a manner for configuration of strategic game squares.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An exemplary embodiment of a game incorporating and using the capabilities of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 1. A game 10 includes, for instance, a game board 12 consisting of a plurality of game squares 14. Game board 12 comprises e.g., ten horizontal rows and eight vertical rows of squares marked on the board. Alternate game squares may be shaded or colored to form a checkered pattern. Game board 12 is preferably constructed from a suitable material such as paper, cardboard, wood or any other flat material as may be known in the art, and can also be implemented digitally in a computer version of the game. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a larger board with more squares or a smaller board with fewer squares may be provided for playing the game according to the present invention.

[0021] There are three types of playing pieces or game pieces which are used in the game. The three types of game pieces are the triangle piece 16, the square piece 18 and the circle piece 20. The game pieces may be constructed from plastic, wood, metal, polished stone or any other suitable material as may be known in the art, or similarly displayed on a computer display. As shown in FIG. 2 a game pieces may have a peg 19 on its upper portion configured to engage a hole 21 on the lower portion of another game piece. Using the peg and hole configuration, or other fastening structures or methods as may be known in the art, game pieces may be stacked one on top of another during game play.

[0022] Prior to the start of a game, opposing players choose a playing position and a playing color. For example a first player may choose the black playing pieces 22, while a second player may choose white playing pieces 24. Each player then places their respective playing pieces on game board 12. It is important to note that any appropriate shape and/or color configurations may be utilized for game play, additionally game pieces may use other identifying indicia to signify the type of game piece (e.g., arrows such as shown in FIGS. 3-5) and/or the respective player.

[0023] The game may be played by two or more players. When it is played by two players, the game pieces may be initially arranged on opposite border positions of game board 12 in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 1. The players may select to arrange the game pieces in a variety of setup patterns. Or a traditional setup may be chosen, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0024] Each of the three types of game pieces have the ability to move in different directions. The direction of movement of the respective pieces is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. Triangle piece 16 has the ability to move in the diagonal direction as indicated by arrows 26. Square piece 18 has the ability to move lineally in either the horizontal direction as indicated by arrows 28, or in the vertical direction as indicated by arrows 30. Circular piece 20 has the ability to move in all directions as indicated by arrows 32. Initially each game piece can only move one square at a time.

[0025] The object of the game is to capture as many of your opponent's game pieces as possible. Capture of an opposing game piece is accomplished by a player moving one of their game pieces into the square that the opposing game piece currently occupies. When an opponent's game piece is captured, the capturing player places his game piece on top of the game piece he is capturing. By capturing an opponent's game piece a player has begun to create a stack. The player whose game piece is on top of the stack controls the entire stack. Once the player's game piece has taken over an opponent's game piece to create a stack, the stack is able to move, in each turn, a number of squares up to but not more than the total number of game pieces residing in that stack. The directional movement of the stack is governed by the shape of the piece on top of the stack.

[0026] Once a stack reaches at least five game pieces it stays on that square and takes no further part in the game. Ownership of the stack belongs to whoever owns the piece on top of the stack. The first player to own three stacks of five or more pieces is the winner.

[0027] During game play each player is allowed only one move per turn. The turns are alternated between players. Other rules may be employed between players to provide a stimulating game environment. Such rules may comprise, at no time may a player capture a game piece which that player currently has possession of, at no time may a player move a game piece or stack through a square which currently is occupied by in other game piece or stack.

[0028]FIG. 6 illustrates a game board 12 set up for game play and utilizing strategic game squares 40. Strategic game squares, when used, allow a player to move any piece that occupies one of those squares any number of squares across game board 12 as long as it moves only in the appointed direction as designated by the controlling game piece. In this exemplary embodiment, teaching game squares 40 are placed in the corners of game board 12. The corner placement allows a number of possible strategic moves resulting from use of strategic game squares 40. Alternatively, strategic game squares 40 may be placed on any game square 14 of game board 12 as may be desired by the players.

[0029] As examples of how the disclosed game offers an enhanced challenge when compared with checkers, but avoids the complexity of chess, consider the following: Given the greater freedom of directional movement of the circle pieces, a player should attempt to protect their circle pieces whenever possible. The circle pieces have even more power at the top of a stack. At all times as in the game of chess, a player should try and protect their game pieces with other game pieces. The strategic squares in the corners of the game board can easily be subject to optical illusion for diagonal moves and therefore maximum use should be made of these strategic squares. In the case of the situation where no player is able to make three stacks, a stack of 8 pieces (the maximum) will count in the player's favor if they own the controlling piece, so during game if a player has a stack of three it makes more sense to capture a stack of three or a stack of 4, than a stack of two. Sacrifice of a square or triangular piece is sometimes preferable if it will then take on or more of your opponent's circular pieces out of the game by formation of a completed stack. When completing a stack of five or more, that stack can no longer move, therefore it can sometimes be useful if it is on the outside of the game board thereby restricting use of the strategic squares on that side.

[0030] The above-described game is only offered as an example. The present invention can be incorporated and used with many types of game boards and/or game pieces without departing from the spirit of the present invention, including any digitally implemented version thereof. Furthermore the rules of the above described game may be modified to accommodate different player levels and preferences of the players.

[0031] Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A method of playing a game between two or more opposing players, the method comprising: placing a first set of game pieces on a game board, the game board having a plurality of game squares; placing a second set of game pieces on the game board, the first set of game pieces and the second set of game pieces each comprising a plurality of sub-game pieces, having indicia integrated therein for determining the direction of movement of the sub-game pieces on the game board; moving the sub-game pieces in their respective direction on the game board; and forming stacks of sub-game pieces when a player moves a sub-game piece onto a game square occupied by one or more opposing sub-game pieces, wherein the number of sub-game pieces in a stack determining a distance of movement in a respective direction on the game board.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stacking during game play is limited to five sub-game pieces.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprises a shape.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining the first set of game pieces and the second set of game pieces on the game board during play.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising prohibiting jumping of game pieces when moving the game piece and the stack from one square to another square.
 6. A method of playing a game between two or more opposing players, the method comprising: placing a first set of stackable game pieces on a game board having a plurality of positions; placing a second set of stackable game pieces on the game board; capturing opposing game pieces to form a plurality of stacks; and moving the plurality of stacks on the game board a number of positions corresponding to the number of game pieces in the stack and less than the number of game pieces in the stack.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first set of stackable game pieces comprises a plurality of different types of game pieces, the second set of stackable game pieces comprises a plurality of different types of game pieces, and wherein moving the plurality of stacks on the game board comprises moving the stack in a direction based on the type of stackable game piece disposed on top of the stack.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of different types of game pieces comprises three different types of game pieces, and wherein a first type of game piece allows movement horizontally or vertically, a second type of game piece allows movement diagonally, and a third type of game piece allows movement horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the moving the plurality of stacks is limited to moving stacks having less than five game pieces.
 10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the game board having at least one position different from the other positions, and further allowing movement of a game piece occupying the at least one different position any number of positions across the game board.
 11. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a winner to be the first player to form three stacks of at least five game pieces with the player's game piece on top of the three stacks.
 12. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a winner to be the player having the greatest number of game pieces in the plurality of stacks with the player's game piece on top of the stacks.
 13. The method of claim 6 further comprising maintaining the game pieces on the game board during play.
 14. The method of claim 6 further comprising prohibiting jumping of game pieces when moving the game piece and the stack from one position to another position.
 15. A method of playing a game by at least two opposing players, the method comprising: locating a first set of stackable game pieces on a game board having a plurality of squares, the first set of stackable game pieces comprising: a plurality of square game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a square-shaped cross-section; a plurality of triangular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a triangular-shaped cross-section; a plurality of circular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a circular-shaped cross-section; locating a second set of stackable game pieces on the game board, the second set of stackable game pieces comprising: a plurality of square game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a square-shaped cross-section; a plurality of triangular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a triangular-shaped cross-section; a plurality of circular game pieces comprising a generally planar member having a circular-shaped cross-section; capturing opposing game pieces to form a plurality of stacks; and moving the plurality of stacks on the game board a number of squares corresponding to the number of game pieces in the stack and less than the number of game pieces in the stack.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the moving the plurality of stacks further comprises at least one of moving the stack horizontally or vertically when a top game piece of the stack comprises a square-shaped game piece, moving the stack diagonally when a top game piece of the stack comprises a triangular-shaped game piece, and moving the stack either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally when a top game piece of the stack comprises a circular-shaped game piece.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the moving is limited to stacks having less than five game pieces.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the game board having at least one square different from the other squares, and further allowing movement of a game piece occupying the at least one different square any number of squares across the game board.
 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining a winner to be the first player to form three stacks of at least five game pieces with the player's game piece on top of the three stacks.
 20. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining a winner to be the player having the greatest number of game pieces in the plurality of stacks with the player's game piece on top of the stacks.
 21. The method of claim 15 further comprising maintaining the game pieces on the game board during play.
 22. The method of claim 15 further comprising prohibiting jumping of game pieces when moving the game piece and the stack from one square to a second square. 